Summary
Amazon has announced a new Fire TV Stick 4K running its Vega operating system, with 8 GB of storage and support for Wi-Fi 6. The device comes with a redesigned remote and is listed at $59.99 in several markets.
Amazon has announced a new Fire TV Stick 4K built on its Vega operating system, alongside a redesigned Fire TV Remote. The stick has 8 GB of internal storage, a quad-core 1.7 GHz processor and Wi-Fi 6 support. Amazon says it is designed to get from powering on to streaming faster than a similarly priced 4K stick from another leading brand.
A Vega-based stick with 4K output
Amazon reports that the new device turns on faster, launches apps more than 35% faster and starts playing content nearly 20% faster than that competing stick. The company also says it tested the Fire TV Stick 4K against the built-in systems of three 4K smart TVs, comparing average performance across the three most popular Fire TV apps. In those tests, it says, the stick started content faster than all three TVs. These are Amazon-reported comparisons; the announcement does not name the competing stick.
The device supports output at 2160p, 1080p and 720p, up to 60 frames per second. Supported formats include HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, H.265, H.264, VP9 and AV1. Its wireless specifications include Bluetooth 5.3 and Bluetooth Low Energy as well as Wi-Fi 6.
The slimmer stick can be powered through a TV’s USB port using the included cable, a feature Amazon calls Direct Power. It comes with Alexa+ and the new Fire TV experience built in. Amazon says its Vega-based Fire TV devices have gained more than 2,000 apps since the first such product launched last year, including Spotify, Xbox and VLC.
Amazon is positioning the Stick 4K as the middle tier in a simpler streaming-stick range: Fire TV Stick HD for entry-level streaming, Stick 4K as its core 4K option and Stick 4K Max for features including Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. The Fire TV Cube remains available as a separate option with hands-free Alexa+ functionality.
Remote redesign and listed availability
The included remote has an asymmetrical shape, with a flat top and curved, weighted bottom, intended to make its orientation easier to feel. Amazon has given the home button a distinct metal surface and shaped or indented other buttons so they can be located by touch. A customizable star button can be set to open a favourite app or toggle settings such as closed captioning and Screen Magnifier. Dedicated power, volume and mute controls operate compatible TVs, soundbars and receivers.
Amazon lists the Fire TV Stick 4K at $59.99, with shipping beginning in the United States, Canada, Japan, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Australia. The announcement says additional countries will follow in late October. A standalone version of the redesigned remote is listed for preorder in the United States at $14.99, with shipping expected to begin in late October. Amazon says its Fire TV Remote Plus, with backlit buttons and a Find My Remote feature, is expected in early 2027.